7 MM mag ballistic tip

[GPo]

Does anyone use this bullet ? I am on my first box of these and they would appear to be ballistically perfect as the tip is that hard polly. Back in the late 70's - early 80's Imperial in the dark green box had these and called them sabre tips. But moving at 3100 fps they seem to make a huge entry wound at close range and I have yet to find any part of the bullet in an animal or at the gravel pit where we sight in. I took a doe at about 250 yards broadside and there was an entry and exit wounds, not very severe, so the bullet wouild appear to stay intact at longer range, but I took an elk last week at about 100 yards broadside and hit it just under the spine, missed the spine, hit one rib and no exit wound or any damage at all on the other side of the ribcage. I found no sign of the bullet at all. So what about this bullet ? They are priced about 30% higher than the others. It would seem to be a great bullet for broadside shots as it does a lot of damage, but I don't think I would trust it for a head on shot for a moose or elk because it may not get through a shoulder or brisket and enter the chest area.

Any thoughts ?

GPo

[deerguide]

GPo,
I've been shooting the ballistic tips in my .30-06 165gr for several years. Never a problem although the only thing I've hunted has been whitetail. The ballistics are super. I figure the 1st order of business it to hit what you aim at and the ballistic tips have never let me down in this department. As to performance after impact, I not had any problem there either. In one side and out the other leaving a path of destruction in between. I did recover one bullet on a deer I hit quartering away. Bullet went in just in front of the left flank and was lodged in the right shoulder after traveling about 24 inches. Bullet expanded well and looked like it retained most of its weight. Of course, deer are deer and elk are elk. Sorry we don't have any elk to speak of in central texas.

[songdog]

(Hunting) BT are at their best, in my humble opinion, at long ranges on thin skinned game. Things like antelope at 400 yards. They perform very well if you make sure that they hit the critter in the sights with the bullet going the right speed. Too close and too fast and it can and will come apart on a shoulder. Nosler's Partition is much better in this case. Whether it hits the critter at 3300fps or all the way down to 1700fps (which I believe is the low end of the recommended velocity scale for Partitions per Nosler) it's going to perform well. The BT just has the advantage when it comes to ballistic coeficient. That's hard to argue with at 400+ yards.

[Frank]

GPo, I use the ballistic tips a lot in various calibers over the years.

I believe they are at there best when it come to accuracy, tragectory and as Songdog states, on thin skinned game.

I've used them in more than one 7mag and currently use a 165 gr in my 300 mag, chronographed at 3250fps. One semi large mule deer buck I hit twice (2nd shot was not necessary), the first bullet went completely through and the 2nd was recovered on the far side of the animal. He was shot at approx 100 yards. Bullet expansion was exceptional. Did destroy a bit of meat though.

However, on Large and/or dangerous game, such as Elk or bear etc, I would never use a ballistic tip. Rather, I would stay with the partition or other custom type of bullet that is especially designed for such critters.

Good Luck
Frank

[GPo]

Thanks people.
I guess I will get a second box of psp or nosler for elk or moose. Problem is the seasons up here are open at the same time. I could very well have tags for deer and moose & elk open at the same time.

GPo

[COHunter]

I saw an Elk drop at the shot from a 130gr BT out of a .270 at about 200 yards. My Dad uses them because he likes to reload and every Deer he has shot with them went straight down. Now the Barnes X bullets are the worst. Seen those go through a Deer like a FMJ